Free Hash Generator — MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-512

Hash Generator

Generate MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 hashes instantly. Runs entirely in your browser.

Hashing is a one-way function that converts any input into a fixed-length string of characters. Unlike encryption, hashing cannot be reversed — the same input always produces the same output, but the output reveals nothing about the original data.

Common use cases include password storage (websites store hashes instead of plaintext passwords), file integrity verification (comparing hash values to detect tampering or corruption), and checksums (ensuring files downloaded correctly).

SHA-256 and SHA-512 are considered secure for modern applications. MD5 and SHA-1 are cryptographically broken and should only be used for non-security purposes like cache keys or deduplication. This generator runs entirely in your browser — your text never leaves your device.

Enter text to hash:

MD5 128-bit

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SHA-1 160-bit

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SHA-256 256-bit

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SHA-512 512-bit

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Common questions

What hash algorithms are available?

The tool supports MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512. Choose the algorithm based on your needs \u2014 SHA-256 is recommended for most security purposes.

Is MD5 still secure for passwords?

No. MD5 is considered cryptographically broken and should not be used for passwords. Use bcrypt or Argon2 for password hashing instead.

Does this tool store the input text?

No. All hashing is performed in your browser. Your text never leaves your device.

What hashing is for

A cryptographic hash turns arbitrary input into a fixed-length digest. Small input changes produce very different outputs. This client-side tool generates common digests (such as MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-512) so you can verify file integrity, compare secrets without displaying them, or learn how algorithms differ — without uploading data to a server.

When to generate a hash

Verifying a downloaded file against a published checksum
Comparing two strings quickly during debugging
Demonstrating why passwords must be salted and stretched server-side
Building deterministic cache keys from stable input (non-security uses)

How to choose an algorithm

Prefer SHA-256 or stronger for integrity checks. MD5 and SHA-1 remain common in legacy checksums but are not appropriate for password storage or collision-resistant security designs. Password hashing belongs in dedicated KDFs (bcrypt, scrypt, Argon2) on the server — not a raw SHA of the password.

Common mistakes

Storing raw SHA-256(password) as a “secure” password database
Comparing hashes across different encodings (UTF-8 vs UTF-16) and assuming a bug in the tool
Publishing hashes of secrets that are short enough to brute-force

Example scenario

A release manager suspected a corrupted artifact mirror. Hashing the local build and the mirror copy showed mismatched SHA-256 digests; re-uploading from the CI artifact store restored a matching checksum and unblocked installers.

Limitations

All hashing runs in your browser. We do not implement HMAC key management or password KDFs here. For password quality estimation, use Password Strength Checker.

Related resources

What Is Hashing? · Password Generator · Password Strength Checker · All tools